Overview
Meihua Yishu (梅花易數), the 'Plum Blossom Divination Numbers', is a uniquely intuitive form of I Ching divination developed by the Song Dynasty polymath Shao Yong (邵雍, 1011–1077). Unlike other hexagram methods that require elaborate casting procedures, Meihua generates hexagrams from any observable phenomenon — a number, a time, a sound, or a chance encounter — reflecting the Taoist principle that all things in the universe are interconnected and carry meaningful information.
Origin
According to legend, Shao Yong developed Meihua Yishu after observing two sparrows fighting over a plum blossom tree outside his window. Using the time of day and the number of branches involved, he calculated a hexagram and predicted that a young girl would fall from the tree the following day — a prediction that came true. This story gave the system its name and established its foundational principle: that any observed phenomenon, properly interpreted through the I Ching's numerical framework, can reveal the hidden order of events.
History
Shao Yong was one of the Five Masters of Northern Song Neo-Confucianism, alongside Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Zai, Cheng Yi, and Cheng Hao. His philosophical masterwork 'Huangji Jingshi' (皇極經世, Supreme Principles Governing the World) laid out a comprehensive cosmological framework based on the I Ching. Meihua Yishu was compiled from his teachings by his son Shao Bowen and students. The method gained enormous popularity during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when comprehensive manuals like 'Meihua Yishu' (梅花易數) were published. In the 20th century, the system was preserved and transmitted by masters in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
How It Works
Meihua divination uses two numbers to generate a hexagram: an upper number (for the upper trigram) and a lower number (for the lower trigram). These numbers can come from any source — the time, a random number, the number of characters in a name, or the number of objects observed. The upper number modulo 8 gives the upper trigram; the lower number modulo 8 gives the lower trigram. The sum of both numbers modulo 6 gives the changing line. The practitioner then analyses the elemental relationships between the upper and lower trigrams, the nature of the changing line, and the 'body' (體) and 'use' (用) hexagrams to derive the reading.
Good For
Use Cases
Chance Encounter Interpretation
Meihua's unique strength is interpreting spontaneous phenomena. A practitioner who hears a particular sound, sees a specific number of birds, or notices an unusual event can immediately generate a hexagram from these observations and derive meaningful guidance.
Name and Number Analysis
The number of strokes in a name, the digits of a phone number, or the characters in a message can all serve as inputs for Meihua divination, making it applicable to modern digital contexts.
Dream Analysis
Practitioners use Meihua to interpret significant dreams by converting dream imagery into numbers — the number of objects seen, the time of the dream, or the emotional intensity — and generating a corresponding hexagram.
Investment Timing
Traders and investors use Meihua to assess market timing by generating hexagrams from price numbers, trading volumes, or the time of a market event, then analysing the elemental dynamics for guidance.
Famous Examples
Song Dynasty Philosopher and DivinerShao Yong (1011–1077) was one of the most celebrated intellectuals of the Song Dynasty. His Meihua predictions were legendary: he reportedly predicted the exact date of his own death, the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, and numerous personal events for his contemporaries. His philosophical framework, which saw the entire cosmos as a vast numerical system, remains one of the most sophisticated in Chinese intellectual history.
The Founding LegendThe story of Shao Yong observing two sparrows fighting over a plum blossom tree is the founding legend of the system. Using the time (afternoon, corresponding to the number 7) and the branch number (3), he calculated the Hexagram 'Guai' (夬) with the third line changing, and predicted that a girl would fall from the tree the following afternoon while trying to pick plums — a prediction that came true exactly as described.
Key Terms
Body Hexagram (體卦)The trigram that represents the querent or the subject of the question. Its elemental state determines the querent's fundamental condition.Use Hexagram (用卦)The trigram that represents the situation or the object of inquiry. Its relationship to the Body Hexagram reveals the dynamic between querent and situation.Changing Line (動爻)The specific line in the hexagram that is in transition, carrying the most active energy and pointing to the key moment of change or resolution.Five Elements (五行)The five elemental forces — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — that govern the relationships between trigrams and determine whether the outcome is generating (生), controlling (克), or neutral.Eight Trigrams (八卦)The eight fundamental symbols of the I Ching — Qian (Heaven), Kun (Earth), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Li (Fire), Gen (Mountain), and Dui (Lake) — each with elemental and directional associations.